Key holder



Aug. 24, 1943 w. v. -{oHNsoN KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. l2, 1943 Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED STATE-S PATENT DFFICE.

KEY HOLDER William V. Johnson, Washington, D. C. Y

Application January 12, 1943, Serial No. 472,121 2 claims. (ci. en -2.2)

This invention relates to a key holder, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of vthis kind provided with means whereby the same may be readily identified or located, and more particularly in the dark.

The invention has'for an object to provide a device of this kind including a case having an identifying perforation or opening in one of its walls together with an element insertible within said case and having a luminous surface for exposure through said perforation or opening, and wherein the case is provided with a member with which a key is adapted to be engaged, and which member also provides means for retaining the element within the case.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts f my improved key holder whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in rear elevation of a key holder constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the holder as herein embodied, a key being applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a view in plan of the blank from which the holder is produced; y

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 `of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the element insertible within the case; and

Figure 7 is a View inplan of the element as herein embodied with the outer lamination thereof broken away.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, C denotes a case herein disclosed as being somewhat V- shaped in design, and which holder is formed from a single sheet of material. The blank from which the case C is formed is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. This blank is properly shaped and is folded along the lines a to provide a substantially V-shaped front wall I. These lines a converge toward the lower end of the Wall I and the material folded along the lines a constitute relatively narrow side Walls 2.

The blank is folded along the lines b to provide the inwardly disposed rear plates 3. These plates 3,'as illustrated in Figures l and 2, are substantially right triangular in form so that in the completed form-` ation of the case C the Vinner longitudinal margins c are substantially parallel, as illustrated in Figure 1, but spaced apart to provide a relatively wide slot i open at both ends. The upper or Wider end-of the front wall I is continued byan extension plate 5 of preferred design, and which in its central portion and adjacent to its outer end is provided with an opening 6 whereby the case may be readily engaged within a conventional key holder or otherwise temporarily mounted as the requirements of practice may prefer.

The central portion of the front wall i, as particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, is provided therethrough with a perforation or opening 'l of such design as may be desired, and which perforation or opening is for the purpose of identification. As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, this perforation or opening l constitutes the numeral l and it is to be pointed out that these cases in practice will be produced in sets with the identities of' the casings of each set being differently indicated so that any particular one of such casings can be readily located. To facilitate such location of a casing, and particularly after nightfall, an element E is freely and substantially snugly fitted within the casing C. In the present embodiment of the invention this element E` comprises a backing sheet 8 of any material preferred, and which has disposed over one surface a coating or lamination 9 of luminous material. To protect this coating or lamination 9 there is disposed thereover a transparent adhesive lamination lll of such material which will effectively serve the purposes intended. This protecting lamination IU provides means whereby the life of the element E is materially prolonged and with resultant; maintenance of the efficiency of the element.

When the element E is in position within the casing C the luminous coating or lamination 9 disposed over the perforation or opening l will be readily visible therethrough, thus allowing for ready identifying of the casing C, and particularly in the dark.

The narrow or bottom end of the rear wall l is continued by an elongated arm Il possessing a certain degree of inherent resiliency. This arm is turned back, as at i2, at a point closely adjacent to the front wall l, and disposed along the casing C and within the field of the slot 4.

This arm II is of a length to extend a slight distance beyond the upper or wider end of the front wall I or the rear walls 3 and said extended portion of the arm I I is pressed or otherwise formed to provide a laterally disposed head I2 for close contact With the plate and at a point in relatively close proximity to the upper or wider end of the front Wall I or the rear Walls 3 and in a manner whereby the applied element E is effectively held against accidentally slipping qui: of the casing C. The arm II, however, due to its inherent resiliency and on account of the particular formation of the head I2 allows a key I4 to be readily engaged With the device as the arm I I can be readily threaded through the cone ventional opening I5 in the head I5 of the ley. As is particularly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the head I2 is substantially llJ`shaped in form and is disposed beyond the inner face of the arm II or toward the plate 5.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a key holder constructedin accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience Aand facility with which it may be assembled and op? erated.

I claim:

1- A ser holder cemprising, a Casing @eee at one end and having an' opening il? a Wall te??? of, an element nscrtible within the casina through the open end thereof, said element having a luminous portion for exposure through the opening in the Wall of the casing, an elongated arm carried by the casing and extending beyond the open end of the casing, and a head carried by said extended portion of the arm for contact with a Wall of the casing.

2. A key holder comprising a casing having a front Wall provided With an identifying opening, llenar-2s dednag the Side alergias. Qf the front wall, invvardlydisposed rear Walls carried by the sideanges, the inner longitudinal margins of the rear Walls being spaced, apart to provide a slot open at both ends, an elongated arm carried by one end of the front Wall and returned to overlie s aid Wall, said arm being of a length to extend beyond the ends of the side Walls remote vfrom the end of the front Wall with which the arm is connected, a head carried by the extended portion of the arm for Contact with the front Wall, and an element insertible within the casing through the end there-elf adjtoentA tdthe head ofthearrn, said element having va luminous sur'-v face for exposure through the opening in the front Wall of the casing,n the head of the arm providing means to hold `lh@element `vvitl'iin the casing, 'said arm also providing means fr'holdng akey.,

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